Career woman, aged 47, spent £20k on IVF to become a first time mum during her menopause:

Lisa Forster, aged 47 is a career woman who has spent £20,000 on IVF to become a first-time mum at this age even after she began to go through the menopause.

Marketing guru Lisa Forster and her fiancé Michael Owen, 49, were told she had “left it too late” when they started trying for a baby in 2010.

The couple from Newcastle, who had been together since 2006, discovered Lisa’s eggs had started to deteriorate because of her age.

Due to her age she found ineligible for NHS funding, Lisa underwent two rounds of failed IVF secretely in the UK. But the determined couple refused to give up and finally chose South Africa for two more rounds of IVF where she overwhelmed by the positive result of her first pregnancy test that she took 5 more just to be sure.

While admitting it was strange hearing the much younger ages of the other expectant mums in the hospital waiting room, Lisa said she never let herself worry about the risks of having a baby later in life.

First-time parents Lisa and Michael were overjoyed to welcome their baby girl Izobel Owen into the world the day before Father’s Day on June 18, 2016.

Now Lisa, who is loving being a mum and says she never begrudges the sleepless nights because she feels so lucky, is encouraging other women of all ages not to give up on their IVF journeys.

Lisa, from Newcastle, said: “I always thought I would have a family one day but then I never really got round to it. Life was so busy and I guess we just put it to one side.

“But when we did start trying I found out I had left it too late and I couldn’t have children anymore because of my age.

“I wasn’t really upset by the news, I just remember feeling determined. Michael and I have always been believers in the idea that if you want something enough and you fight for it, you’ll get it.

“We had two rounds of IVF in the UK but they weren’t successful at all. It was really disheartening being told there just weren’t any signs of life

Lisa, from Newcastle, said: “I always thought I would have a family one day but then I never really got round to it. Life was so busy and I guess we just put it to one side.

“But when we did start trying I found out I had left it too late and I couldn’t have children anymore because of my age.

“I wasn’t really upset by the news, I just remember feeling determined. Michael and I have always been believers in the idea that if you want something enough and you fight for it, you’ll get it.

“We had two rounds of IVF in the UK but they weren’t successful at all. It was really disheartening being told there just weren’t any signs of life.

Lisa Forster and Michael Owen are now very much happy for their first baby and trying to streamline their new life with new angel Izobel

The former fitness instructor is determined to keep fit and healthy so she can be a good role model for Izobel and so she is around for as much of her daughter’s life as possible.

While one toddler to run around after might be more than most couples their age would want to cope with, Michael and Lisa would love to have another child.